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Garnet Engagement RingsandYour Guide to the Garnet Gemstone

Garnet engagement rings are naturally available in a lovely selection of delightful colors, thanks to the many types of
minerals with similar silicate crystal structures that make up the
family of garnet gemstones.

Find out here the types of garnet
gemstones
used most often in garnet jewelry plus tips on how to shop wisely for a
lasting ring
featuring a stunning garnet gemstone. And if you have any questions
about garnet wedding rings, send them in through the comment box at the end of the page - you can send in reviews and share pics of your amazing ring here too!

Garnet Fast Fun Facts!

January Birthstone

Durability: Good

Meaning: Passionate love

Flash Factor: Good

Special Care: Some

Price $$: Moderate

Availability: High

Garnet Properties

Garnet is a pretty strong gemstone, and it can hold up well in every day wear wedding rings. This gemstone is also quite affordable, and has plenty of eye catching flash and fire. And, garnet is an excellent alternative to the higher priced ruby gemstone for low priced but high quality red engagement rings.

Garnet is a stone of many meanings, but first and foremost garnet
gemstones symbolize fire, passion, and love - symbols which are quite
appropriate for garnet engagement rings!

Garnet is also associated with success in life and business, popularity with friends, high energy, and fertility.

Garnet is the modern and classic birthstone for the month of January.

Special Care for Garnet Wedding Rings

Although garnet gemstones are quite durable, they can fracture if
they are exposed to sudden extreme temperature changes - this is
especially true for stones which have inner inclusions.

To keep
garnet wedding rings in excellent shape for years to come, try to avoid
exposing the ring to extreme temperature changes. And, if the garnet
develops any slight surface scratches, a professional buff and polish
should be able to remove them.

Garnet Enhancements

Garnet stones are not normally subjected to any type of
enhancements or treatments. But you should beware of garnets that
have been color dyed or heat treated to improve their color (often
labeled as H or D garnet gemstones). These types of treatments on
garnets are highly unstable and dramatically decrease the value of the
stones too.

Best Metals and Cuts for Garnet Gemstones

Garnet
is truly a versatile gemstone that looks captivating in a variety of
cuts - the round, pear, oval, heart, marquise, and cushion cuts tend to
highlight a garnet stone's depth and deep colors, while the emerald,
princess and radiant cuts showcase garnet's light and dark color
variations.

Like most gemstone rings, it is best to pair garnet
rings with metals that do not require rhodium plate and these include:
18k, 14k yellow or rose gold, platinum, palladium and silver.

The price for quality garnet gemstones is on average $80.00
dollars per carat. But the price for these stones may increase
dramatically according to what type of garnet stone you are interested
in.

The total cost of garnet engagement rings will vary as well
according to the type of metal used to create the ring and if the ring
includes any diamonds or intricate workmanship.

Cut, color, clarity, and carat will affect the overall value of
garnet rings too. The most highly desirable garnet colors are the yellows,
yellow-green, green-yellow, rare blues, and the rare green varieties.

Custom cuts are valued much more highly than regular or poor
cuts, and carat size can have a huge impact on the value of a garnet
gemstone especially if you are purchasing one of the more rare forms of
garnet.

This year's most popular garnet shapes include the cushion and emerald cut garnet gemstones.

Fortunately, garnet is a gemstone that is a particular favorite with gemstone cutters partly because it looks so brilliant in a number of cuts and because it is an easy gemstone to cut (for an experienced cutter that is!).

Clarity is an important value factor as well with all garnets
except Uvarovite in which inclusions known as ‘horsetails’ are highly
desirable. Visible inclusions in garnet gemstones (except for the Uvarovite stones) will decrease the value of the stones.

Shopping Tips for Garnet Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands

With so many different types and styles of garnet
engagement rings and wedding bands available, couples should take their time to learn
about the varieties
they are interested in to be sure they are buying an authentic stone for
the right price.

To make sure you are purchasing a quality garnet with excellent properties, stick with reputable jewelers and boutiques who specialize in garnet jewelry.

EWR's number one recommendation for high quality garnet engagement rings and wedding bands made with silver, gold, palladium and platinum is Gemvara.

If you are buying a used garnet ring, it might be a good idea to have the ring checked by a local certified gemologist to confirm its authenticity too.

And because garnet has been such a popular jewelry gemstone for hundreds of years, there are plenty of antique, estate and vintage garnet rings available - but they should always come with a certificate of authentication and/or an appraisal.

Keep in mind that certain color varieties are valued more than
others, and that the overall price in garnets increases with the carat
size,
clarity, and quality of cut. Look for gemstone garnet properties which include a high degree of clarity and a custom cut.

Garnets should not be enhanced in any way, so remember to avoid
garnets that have received any type of enhancement including heat
treatments and color dyes.

If you are shopping on a budget, a sterling silver garnet ring may be the perfect option. Silver engagement rings do require a little TLC - but with the right care they will remain in excellent condition. (For a little extra, or sometimes even the same price, palladium rings are also a terrific affordable option).

Keep in mind that white gold garnet engagement rings will need a new coat of rhodium plate about every 1 to 2 years. And within just a few years, the price of rhodium plating a ring can exceed the cost of upgrading to a palladium or even a platinum ring. If you would like to forgo the expense and bother of rhodium plating your ring, go with garnet rings made with platinum, palladium, silver or yellow/rose gold.